America's Response to the Holocaust

Paige Tonne-7

America's Response to the Holocaust

Paige Tonne-7

Introduction

The United States played a key role in World War 2 and the ending of the Holocaust. We didn't join the war immediately, but America still greatly impacted the outcome. The willingness and dedication of the to fight day and night, face to face with danger is a miracle in itself. They risked their lives every second that they were off American soil for the liberty and justice of strangers.

U.S. Marine Corps in WWII

Neutrality Act of 1939

World War II started on September 1, 1939. However, the U.S. didn't officially join until December 7, 1941. Though America wasn't officially a part of the war and was said to be neutral, we were included in a lot of "under the table" activities. The laws and restrictions made helping the Allies difficult, but that didn't stop us. One of those limitations was The Neutrality Act of 1939, stating that the U.S. couldn't supply war materials to anyone involved in the war. There was a loophole though. America could provide guns,ammo,food, vehicles,ships,ect. to the Allies, but it had to be purchased (not given away freely) and they had to come get it. This method was called the "cash and carry" deal.

Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, and United States Department of State. "Lend-Lease and Military Aid to the Allies in the Early Years of World War II." Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/lend-lease>.

Lend-Lease Act

In result to The Johnson Act of 1934, the U.S. couldn't hand out anything to any countries that had not yet paid back their debts from World War I. So when British Prime Minister Winston Churchill told President Roosevelt in December 1940 that England could no longer support themselves financially in the war, something needed to be changed. On December 17, 1940 Roosevelt proposed the "Lend-Lease" idea. This allowed America to provide Britain with war materials, and would be paid off in later years. This was put into place in March 11, 1941. Churchill described this as one of the most generous acts in history.

Citations

Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, and United States Department of State. "Lend-Lease and Military Aid to the Allies in the Early Years of World War II." Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/lend-lease>.

Dachau Liberation

American Soldiers' Reaction to the Holocaust

Imagine being a U.S. soldier in Germany. It's the afternoon of April 11, 1945, a warm spring day. Having just joined the Army and being at the bottom of the list of important people, no one finds it useful to tell you were your headed. You just follow orders and mind your own business. Suddenly you look up to see a giant barbed wire fence and at least 20 guard towers. The camp looked empty(the Germans must have fled) so the tank in front of yours runs straight through the barbed allowing y'all into the camp. You immediately start scouting, that being your job. The first room you enter you see at least 100 people, but they're not soldiers trying to attack you. They're awful smelling, filthy, tired, scared people. it's not hard for you to notice they they have been over worked and under fed. The strangers all had on matching clothes: pants and shirts with vertical grey and blue stripes. You suddenly came to the realization the these were "the people" that everyone had been talking about. The ones that the Nazi's were trying to wipe out. You realized that your worst nightmare became reality and your hatred for Adolf Hitler grew. Even years after the experience you could never get that memory and those feelings out of your mind. That day changed who you were and how you thought and you've never been the same since. That's what those soldiers in WWII had to go through. Even after the Holocaust ended and Hitler died they were still impacted everyday by those experiences.

Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, and United States Department of State. "Lend-Lease and Military Aid to the Allies in the Early Years of World War II." Office of the Historian. U.S. Department of State. Web. 2 Feb. 2016. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/lend-lease>.